Maria had arranged for Aiko to have extended visiting time the following day, understanding that one afternoon hadn't been enough to process everything she needed to say. When Aiko returned to room 412, she carried with her a small bag containing items she thought might be meaningful—photos from her transformation journey, a letter she had written but never expected to deliver, and one of the traditional Japanese hair combs that Aunt Keiko had given her.
"Hello again," she said softly, settling into the familiar chair beside his bed. "I brought some things to show you today."
The morning light streaming through the window seemed gentler than yesterday's afternoon sun, creating a peaceful atmosphere that made the sterile hospital room feel almost intimate. Aiko arranged her items on the bedside table, creating a small display of her journey from the broken girl he had helped to the person she had become.
"This is a photo from my graduation at Stellar Academy," she said, holding up the picture so he could see it, even though his eyes remained closed. "Mrs. Sato—the woman who became like a grandmother to me—she's standing beside me. I wish you could meet her. She has the same gentle way of caring for people that you showed me that day."
As she spoke, Aiko found herself studying his face with new attention to detail. Yesterday had been about the shock of finally seeing him; today was about truly observing the person he was now. His breathing was steady and peaceful, his skin had the pallor of someone who hadn't seen sunlight in years, but there was something in his features that still spoke of the determined young man who had dedicated his life to helping others.
"I've been thinking about my mother," she continued, her voice growing more contemplative. "She died in a car accident when I was twelve. For a long time, I thought that was why I felt so lost, so unworthy of care. But yesterday, sitting here with you, I realized something important."
She paused, arranging the Japanese comb so it caught the morning light. "My mother loved beautiful things—hair ornaments, traditional crafts, anything that celebrated artistry and culture. When she died, I thought that part of me died too. But Javier, when you took the time to care for my hair that day, you awakened something in me that connected back to her memory."
The monitors continued their quiet rhythm, but Aiko found herself imagining that his breathing had shifted slightly, become more attentive somehow. She knew it was probably wishful thinking, but the feeling of being heard was too comforting to dismiss.
"I need to tell you something else," she said, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Something I've never admitted to anyone, not even myself."
She reached out and gently took his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin and the steady pulse at his wrist that confirmed life continuing beneath the surface of unconsciousness.
"I think I fell in love with you that day. Not the romantic love that comes from knowing someone deeply, but something more profound. I fell in love with your kindness, with the way you saw me when I couldn't see myself, with the gentleness in your hands and the patience in your voice."
Tears were flowing freely now, but they felt cleansing rather than heartbreaking. "For two years, I've carried this feeling—this sense that you were the most important person in my life even though we spent only an hour together. I built my entire journey around the hope of finding you again, of somehow building a life worthy of what you gave me."
She leaned closer to the bed, her voice becoming even more intimate. "There's something else about that day I need to tell you. Your eyes, Javier. When I looked into your eyes during that hour we spent together, there was something there—recognition, maybe? It felt like you really saw me, not just the mess I was, but something deeper."
"I wish I could have talked more with you."
Aiko paused, her fingers tightening around his hand. "I can't explain it properly, but when our eyes met, it was like this deep knowing in my heart. Like you understood exactly who I was underneath all the neglect and pain. That look in your eyes—it changed everything for me. It made me believe I was worth seeing, worth caring about. I know you can't respond, but what I felt that day was real. Your kindness isn't something you just do—it's who you are. That's what I fell in love with. But Javier, I needed you to know that your kindness created something beautiful in someone's heart. You made me believe I was worthy of love."
The afternoon passed quietly as Aiko shared stories about her time in Spain, her friendships with Miguel and other students, her growing mastery of techniques that traced back to that moment when he had shown her that hair could be cared for rather than neglected. As evening approached, she felt a profound sense of completion settling over her.
"I have to leave Valencia tomorrow," she said softly. "There are people in Madrid who care about me, opportunities I need to pursue, a life I need to build. But before I go..."
She stood up from the chair and moved closer to the head of the bed, looking down at his peaceful face with all the love and longing she had carried for two years. Her heart was racing as she made a decision that felt both natural and momentous.
Very gently, she leaned down and cupped his face with her hands, her thumbs tracing softly along his cheekbones. Then, with infinite tenderness and two years of accumulated love, she pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was both greeting and goodbye.
The kiss was soft, lingering, filled with all the emotions she had never been able to express. Her lips moved gently against his, warm and alive, pouring every ounce of gratitude, love, and devotion into this one precious moment of connection. She had dreamed of kissing him for so long, had imagined what it might feel like, but the reality was both heartbreaking and perfect—tender beyond anything she had anticipated.
When she finally pulled back, tears were streaming down her face, but her expression was peaceful.
"I love you," she whispered, her face still close to his. "I've loved you since the moment you showed me I was worth caring about. I don't know if you can hear me, or if you'll ever wake up, but I needed you to know that. I needed to give you that part of myself."
She pressed her forehead against his gently, breathing in the quiet moment between them.
"Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for showing me I was worthy of love. Thank you for being exactly who you were when I needed you most."
As she straightened up, Aiko felt something fundamental shifting inside her. The desperate search, the aching hope, the sense of incompleteness that had driven her for so long—all of it was transforming into something more peaceful. She had found him, told him she loved him, kissed him with all the tenderness in her heart.
"I'll carry you with me always," she said, gathering her items from the bedside table. "Not as someone I'm waiting for, but as someone who gave me the foundation to build a beautiful life. That's the greatest thank you I can offer—living fully and loving generously, the way you taught me to."
The kiss had been both her confession and her goodbye. As she prepared to leave room 412, Aiko understood that honoring Javier's gift meant embracing whatever life and love awaited her ahead, carrying his memory as a blessing rather than a burden.
She had found him, loved him, and kissed him goodbye. Now it was time to discover what came next.